Playing for Sean is no pipe dream for Connor

Published on Thursday 12 November 2009 08:34

PLAYING in front of a Hollywood legend would be enough to leave most young musicians shaken and stirred.

But 13-year-old Connor Sinclair thinks nothing of picking up his pipes to entertain Sir Sean Connery – after the Bond star made him his official piper.

The teenager, a pupil at the City of Edinburgh Music School, based at Broughton High, is at the beck and call of Sir Sean, below, whenever he is in Scotland.

If that was not enough, Connor is also the official piper to First Minister Alex Salmond, and has performed at numerous SNP conferences and official engagements.

One of the most memorable performances for the youngster was an event honouring the Stone of Destiny at Edinburgh Castle last year, where he piped for both Sir Sean and Mr Salmond.

Connor first met Bahamas-based Sir Sean when he performed at the last year's Festival.

He said: "I met Alex Salmond when I performed at the Save the Scottish Regiments rally in Edinburgh, and I met Sean Connery at the Black Watch play and he asked me if I would pipe for him.

"I've chatted to him a couple of times and think he's quite cool.

"I get a phone call every now and again asking me to play for him. I don't play anything specific for him, just whatever comes into my head.

"I love piping and playing for the First Minister and Sean Connery is really exciting.

"Piping is great fun and keeps you fit. Most of my friends are into football, but I prefer piping and practise for around an hour each night when I come home from school. I would love to teach piping to others when I get older."

Connor's music teacher and director of the City of Edinburgh Music School, Tudor Morris, said the youngster kept quiet about being asked by Mr Salmond and Sir Sean to be their official piper, In fact, Mr Morris had to glean the information from Connor's parents. He is now on a mission to get the Bond star to visit the school.

Mr Morris said: "We have never had Sean Connery in the school, which is a shame, but he is always welcome.

"Like most 13-year-old boys, we have to drag information out of him by force, but luckily his parents keep us updated and tell us about these things.

"This is a one-off – I don't think politicians have official violinists or trombone players, it's just something Alex Salmond wanted to do.

"I suppose it looks good for him having a young, confident piper and he has been very supportive.

"Connor is very committed to playing the pipes and is a very motivated and hard-working piper. He'll go on to be one of the best pipers in the country."

Mr Salmond added: "Connor is a wonderful young talent, with an array of successes in his first few years of competition, and a fantastic career ahead.

"It is a tribute to Connor's enthusiasm for his music that he always answers the call to pipe guests into functions at the Castle and elsewhere – and he is always the star of the show."

Second-year pupil Connor plans to study for a piping degree at the prestigious Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.